An employee working in the cabinet of French-language education minister Caroline Désir has been arrested in connection with 50 bags of cocaine that were discovered at the offices of the ministry in Brussels.
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50 bags of cocaine found in Wallonia’s education ministry, member of staff arrested
Lisa Bradshaw
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On 13 December, Wallonia’s education minister Caroline Désir of socialist party PS was informed that one of her staff was arrested in connection with drugs trafficking. The following day she started the procedure to terminate the employee.
Responding to the news, which only just reached the press, a ministry spokesperson confirmed that authorities also searched the premises of the cabinet on 14 December and found 50 bags of cocaine. “The police searched the employee’s office and all of the areas to which he had access,” said the spokesperson. “They found some 50 bags of white powder.”
A source has informed VRT that the man who was arrested is the son of PS politician Fadila Laanan, a former minister and current member of the Brussels parliament. He is apparently a key figure in the investigation, responsible for logistics in the drugs operation.
The investigation into the drug trading ring has led to eight arrests. Two of the suspects have been released under investigation; the other six are still in custody.
Désir’s cabinet has fully cooperated with the investigation and no one else in the cabinet has been questioned.